Moldable shoe heel composition and process of compounding same



Feb. 2, 1937. I A.V V. MARCHANT v 2,069,585

MOLD BLE 0- L ss .7

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,069,585 PATENT oFFicE MOLDABLE SHOE HEEL COMPOSITION .AND

, PROCESS OF COMPOUNDING SAME Application May 31, 1932, Serial NO. 614,607 I Renewed March 26, 1936 11 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe heels and other articles adapted to be made from a composition ly manipulated during the molding operation and which when aged and dried will give great rigidity to the article molded therefrom.

One object of the invention is the production of a heel stronger than the usual wooden heel and which may be manufactured at less cost.

Another object of the invention is the produc- -tion of such heel with a strengthening member molded therein. Y

A further object of the invention is to molded heel of any desired color.

These objects are all obtained by the means described in the accompanying specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which provide shows one form of article which may be con-' structed from the new composition although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the manufacture of composition heels but may be applied equally as well to various other articles.

It should be further understood that the ingredients of the composition may be varied to suit different conditions and that the steps in the process may also be varied.

The invention is not limited to the precise sequence of stepsin the process or in the exact ingredients in the composition as herein described except as required by the scope of the claims.

Of the drawing- Figure 1 represents a plan of a shoe heel mold-.

ed from a composition and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of same.

Figure 3 represents a vertical sectionof same on line 3, 3, on Fig. 1 and showing a strengthening member molded therein and provided with means for attaching a bottom lift to said shoe heel.

Figure 4 represents a vertical section of a modifled form of shoe heel and showing a strengthening member molded into the composition of which said shoe heel is composed, and

Figure 5 represents a similar section showing a reenforcing sheet of tough material secured to the front of the heel.

Similar characters indicate like parts through out the several figures of the drawing. I

1 In the drawing, in is a shoe heel molded from a composition such as will be described hereinafter.

This shoe heel l may be molded in any desired shape and may be provided at the top with the depression II, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or this depression may be omitted if desired.

Ordinarily when the shoe heel is constructed of the new composition it will have sufllcient strength to prevent breakage thereof under all usual conditions.

If necessary, however, in order to withstand very rough usage, a steel strengthening member l2 may be embedded in the composition when the shoe heel is being molded, as shown in Fig. 4.

If desired, the head l3 may have attached thereto a pronged member l4 adapted to secure a leather bottom lift [43: to the shoe heel, all as shown in Fig. 3.

Where the projecting forward part l at the top of the shoe heel is to be very thin and liable to be chipped or broken, this part I 5 may be formed on a tough sheet of material It firmly secured to the front face of the shoe heel, as indicated in Fig. 5.

One of the main features of the invention is the manufacture of shoe heels by molding the same from a composition which is manipulated readily in the form of a dough, thus making it possible to mold the same to any desired shape and which will have great strength and density when finished.

By molding the shoe heels from a composition I a better shoe heel is obtained at less expense and without all the labor which is required in making and shaping a wooden heel.

In preparing my new composition I take fifteen pounds of alcohol, seven ('7) pounds of cherry resin, eight (8) pounds of gum copal, six (6) pounds of Indian red gum, and seven (7) pounds of linseed oil, and place these ingredients in an agitator and agitate the ingredients for two or three hours or until they are thoroughly dissolved and a liquid solution is produced.

The quantities of these ingredients may; be varied to a certain extent but in practice it has been found that the best results are obtained by the proportions mentioned.

I then take ten (10) pounds of leather powder,

ingredients into a suitable mixing machine and cause them to be stirred therein for two or three hours.

At the end of this period a dry mixture of these ingredients is obtained and this mixture is then placed in a kneading machine and the adhesive or gum solution previously mentioned and which has been properly prepared in the agitator is inserted into the kneading machine.

While in the kneading machine a concentrated solution of celluloid scraps and acetone is added to the mixture.

These ingredients in the second concentrate solution are substantially in the proportion of ten (10) pounds of celluloid and fifty (50) pounds of acetone and have been previously dissolved in another agitator by themselves.

All of these ingredients having been placed in the kneading machine they are kneaded from two to five hours until a still molding dough is secured.

Substantially four (4) pounds of China wood oil is then added to the mixture and the entire contents of the kneading machine is then thoroughly mixed for about two hours.

After this mixture has been completed the dough is permitted to age for about forty-eight hours before placing it. in a mold.

This aging is accomplished in an air tight aging tank after having been removed from the kneading machine and is allowed to stand at least forty-eight hours and more, if possible.

When in the molding operation additional dough is .required the dough is replaced in the kneading machine and kneaded forabout one hour and then after removal from the kneading machine is placed in-the mold in order to have the shoe heel molded from the dough.

The molds used in producing any article should be covered occasionally with lard or lard oil to prevent the sticking of the dough thereto.

When in the molds the dough is subjected to a .pressure of about twenty (20) pounds to the square inch, although this amount of pressure may be varied according to the strength, density and grain of the stock desired.

. No heat is required in any of the operations just described.

After the shoe heel has been molded it is removed from the mold and placed in a warm air circulating dryer or drying tunnel in which the temperature varies from 70 to The dry air in the tunnel or the drying chamber is circulated therethrough by means of any well known blower or similar device.

In this drying operation the amount of dryingdepends upon the particular type of stock required and may vary anywhere from five to forty-eight hours.

When the shoe heels have been molded, aged and dried, they are very tough, have great strength and are waterproof.

If desired, any alcohol soluble coloring may be included in the mixture so that any variation in color of the completed shoe heel may be obtained and this color will extend throughout the entire shoe heel.

When the molded shoe heels have been dried they are first placed in a No. 2 coarse sanding machine to smooth the outer surface thereof, and are then placed in a fine sanding machine to provide a better finish to said surface.

These heels are then bufied and may be finished by applying a Duco spray to the outer surface or the entire heel may be dipped in celluloid, painted or covered with leather, as may be desired to suit different conditions.

Other articles such as doll heads and other toys may be treated in the same manner.

when a shoe heel is to be covered with leather,

no outside coating of the heel is required.

Shoe heels thus formed are unbreakable under any ordinary use to which they may be subjected.

The dough is very readily manipulated during the molding operation and when subjected to slight pressure during the molding it becomes extremely compact, practically eliminating all air pockets therefrom.

While the composition may be molded into different forms, it may also be used in sheet form, spread over a floor to make a waterproof flooring of extreme. hardness, capable of' withstanding rough usage without injuring the surface thereof.

The composition may be used also to fillin cracks in wooden articles.

The ingredients in the solution and dry mixture may be varied to some extent according to the particular purpose for which the composi- 'tion is to be used.

It is believed that the many advantages of the composition herein described will be fully understood without iurther description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting of a mixture of wood fiour, dextrine, leather fiber, and cotton waste united by gummy adhesive substance.

2. A composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting of a mixture of soft wood flour. dextrine, leather fiber, and cotton waste united by gummy adhesive substance.

3. A composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting of a mixture or soft wood fiour, dextrine, leather fiber, and cotton waste united by an adhesive substance containing alcohol, cherry resin, gum copal, India red gum, and linseed oil. I

4. A composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting of a mixture of wood fiour, dextrine, leather fiber, and cotton waste united by an adhesive substance containing alcohol, resin, gum, and linseed oil.

5. A composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting of a mixture of soft wood flour, dextrine, leather fiber, and cotton waste united by an adhesive substance containing alcohol, resin, gum, celluloid and linseed oil.

6. A composition to be used in forming molded mixture of soft wood flour, dextrine, leather fiber, and cotton waste united by an adhesive substance containing alcohol, resin, gum, acetone and shellac.

7. The process of making a composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting in producing by agitation a solution of alcohol, resin, gum, and linseed oil,

obtaining a dry mixture of wood flour, leather fibers, dextrine, and fibered cotton waste, and then combining the solution with the mixture and kneading the same to form a dough.

8. The process of making a composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting in producing by agitation a shoe heels and other articles consisting of a a solution of alcohol, cherry resin,.gum copal, and linseed oil, obtaining a dry mixture of wood flour, leather fibers, dextrine, and flbered cotton waste, and then combining the solution with the mixture and kneading the same to form a dough.

9. The process of making a composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting in producing by agitation a solution of alcohol, resin, India red gum, and linseed oil,- obtaining a dry mixture of wood flour, leather fibers, wheat flour, and flbered cotton waste, and then combining the solution with the mixture and kneading the same to form a dough.

10: The process of making a composition to be used in forming molded shoe heels and other articles consisting in producing by agitation a solution of alcohol, resin, gum, and linseed oil,

obtaining a dry mixture of wood flour, leather fibers, dextrine, and flbered cotton waste, producing a second solution by dissolving celluloid scraps and acetone, and then combining both solutions with the mixture and kneading the same to form a dough.

11. The process of making a composition to be used in forming shoe heels and other articles consisting in producing by agitation a solution of alcohol, cherry resin, India red gum, gum copal,

and linseed oil, obtaining a dry mixture of wood flour, leather fibers, dextrine, and flbered cot- 

